Her Stand-In Fake Fiancé

by Cindy Roland Anderson

  She quickly skimmed over the onlookers once more, trying to find Jillian Hastings. Presley had looked her up online and discovered she was right about her being pretty. Jillian was gorgeous with dark auburn hair and a body she enjoyed frequently displaying on social media. Presley should get some tips from Jillian on how to take a selfie. Zuri was always after Presley to post pictures of herself in workout clothes, which Jillian did nearly every day. Seriously, every day. In fact, Presley may not recognize the woman fully clothed.

  Kade’s mother and stepdad were the last to come out of the house. Marilyn looked stunning in a red silk jumpsuit with wide legs. Her dark hair was cut in a chic short bob with one side tucked behind her ear. Diamond earrings sparkled like the stars on a moonless night, making Presley feel frumpy in her distressed skinny jeans and a long-sleeved tee. Thankfully, Mrs. Miles wasn’t looking at Presley. Her eyes were glued to her phone as she typed in a message.

  “Let’s get these little munchkins inside,” Kade said. “I’ll come get our luggage in a minute.”

  “Okay.” Presley felt a small hand slip into hers. She looked down to see a little girl with big brown eyes and her auburn hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. “You’re Brooklyn, right?” Presley asked as they followed Kade to the porch steps.

  “Yesth,” she answered with a hint of a lisp. “Who are you?”

  “I’d like to know the same thing,” a woman said with just enough of a bite to her words to leave teeth marks.

  Chapter 8

  Kade heard the tone in his mother’s voice and immediately knew this wasn’t going to go smoothly. He wanted to reach for Presley’s hand as a show of solidarity, but Maddie was hanging onto his left hand while Jenny and Laura gripped his other one.

  He shifted his focus to Presley, hoping the sassy Princess Warrior was close by. Cowering to his mother would only make things worse. He probably should’ve prepped Presley better. Heck, he wasn’t prepared himself. It was a little hard concentrating since his pretend fiancée was wreaking havoc with his body. Now that Big Brother wasn’t watching over them, the underlying attraction he’d suppressed for Presley had exploded into an inferno. She was driving him crazy.

  Presley licked her lips and glanced at him. Her face at least had some color to it, but she wasn’t smiling. She actually looked terrified. It ticked him off. He wanted to call his mom out but didn’t want to make Presley feel any more uncomfortable.

  “Hey guys,” Kade said, pausing at the base of the porch steps. He was grateful when Jenny and Laura let go of his hand and raced up the stairs to hug his stepdad. With his hand free, he was able to reach over and take Presley’s hand. Her fingers felt like icicles as she gripped onto him like she was hanging onto a lifeline. “Mom, I think you remember meeting Presley Windsor a couple of years ago at the badge ceremony.”

  “Yes, of course.” His mom’s eyes flickered to Presley’s face and then down and their joined hands and then back to him. “Kade, darling,” she said, her voice polite and refined but still lacking any warmth, “you didn’t tell us that you were bringing a guest home with you.”

  Kade felt Presley stiffen at his mom’s slight. “Sorry, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “It certainly is that,” his brother-in-law Greg said dryly. He was pretty sure Stacie had told her husband about the engagement.

  “A surprise?” his mom asked, blinking rapidly like one of her eyelash extensions had fallen into her eye. “What do you mean?”

  Maddie let go of Kade’s hand and darted up the stairs, holding her arms up to her father. The child must have a sixth sense that things were about to get tense. Greg bent down and picked his daughter up and then grimaced at Kade and mouthed, “Good luck.”

  Squeezing Presley’s hand, Kade tugged her closer to his side. He wasn’t sure how to break the news without starting World War 3. Movement caught his eye, and he saw Stacie quickly move to their mom’s side.

  “Mom,” Stacie said, sliding her hand around their mother’s arm. “Why don’t we all go inside and let the kids finish watching their show.” She sent an apologetic look at Kade and Presley. “Then Kade can share his news.”

  “News?” his mom asked. “What news?”

  “Sweetheart,” Ben said, putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder. “It’s cold outside and rude to keep Kade and Presley standing in the snow.”

  Hearing the word rude snapped his mother into hostess mode. “Of course,” she said, forcing her mouth up into a smile as fake as his engagement was to Presley. “Kade, please bring your guest inside.” She spun around and took three-year-old Blake by the hand, leading him back into the house.

  “Thank you,” Kade said to Stacie. She nodded, and then helped Greg, Devon and Cody herd the other children inside.

  “Kade,” Jamie whispered, looking over her shoulder and then back at him. “I need to warn you that mom has a surprise for you too.”

  Allison moved in close to Jamie. “Yeah, we should’ve said something earlier.”

  “It’s okay,” he said, grateful his sisters were sensitive to Presley’s feelings. “Stacie called an hour ago.”

  “So you know about…” Allison’s words trailed off when their mother appeared at the doorway. “…the talent show, right?” she finished without hardly missing a beat.

  “Yep, Presley and I are planning on it.” He heard Presley inhale sharply, so he gently squeezed her hand to ward off another panic attack and to keep her from bolting on him. “Can’t wait.”

  “What talent show?” Presley hissed as they mounted the porch steps. “And where is you-know-who?”

  “We’ll talk about it later,” he said from the side of his mouth. And he had no clue where Jillian was, which he told Presley before crossing the threshold.

  The house smelled like gingerbread. His mother and sisters baked it fresh every year for the annual gingerbread house contest. It was a fun tradition, and he was excited to share it with Presley. It kind of surprised him how much he wanted to share everything with her. He knew from being so close to Travis that their Christmas celebrations were far different from his. At least the Christmas’s once his mother married Ben. In the blink of an eye, his mom had gone from an impoverished twenty-one-year-old widow to a billionaire’s wife. The money hadn’t affected Kade like it had his mother. Sometimes he wondered if she even remembered their former life.

  “This house is amazing,” Presley said, letting go of his hand to take off her shoes.

  “It is beautiful,” Kade said, glancing toward the great room where his family was gathering. “Hey,” he said, waiting for Presley to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry about all of that out there.”

  Her blue eyes glittered with moisture, and she bit down on her lower lip. “Your mom hates me.”

  “She doesn’t hate you.”

  “I’m not stupid,” Presley said.

  Murmurs from the other room drifted on the spicy scented air. It was clear a pretty intense conversation was going on with his family.

  “I can still leave,” Presley whispered in a shaky voice. “They still don’t know anything.”

  Kade hated how wounded she looked. He’d promised Travis he’d protect his sister, and so far, he was doing a lousy job. He could handle his mom. He’d grown thick skin over the years. But how fair was it to subject someone as sweet as Presley to his mother and Jillian together? As much as he was enjoying the role of Presley’s boyfriend, he needed to give her an out if she really wanted it.

  “I don’t want you to leave,” he said, surprised by how much he really meant it. Something was happening between them. Something he hadn’t counted on, and it wasn’t just the sizzling chemistry that had surfaced. They were friends. She made him laugh, and he loved making her laugh. “But I will take you home this second if that’s what you really want.”

  Presley considered him for a long moment, and he was afraid she might take him up on the offer. “I don’t want to ruin your family’s Christmas.”

  �
�You won’t.”

  “What about your mom?”

  “She’ll come around once she sees how much … how great we are together,” Kade said, stumbling on his words. He’d almost said how much I love you. Love? He didn’t love her. He liked her. A lot. And he was attracted to her, but that didn’t mean he was ready for this to all be real.

  She studied him thoughtfully for several heartbeats before a small smile emerged. “I want to stay.”

  A stupid grin spread across his face. “There’s my Princess Warrior,” he said, not caring how sappy he sounded. Hey, if he was going to play the part, he might as well go all in.

  “That makes you Prince Charming by default.” Her lips curved up, the smile reaching her eyes. “You are kind of charming, you know.”

  “Yeah?” Kade teased back. He held out his hand and felt a rush of electricity surge through his veins when their palms met. “Okay, it’s showtime.”

  “Right.” The smile on Presley’s face faltered. “This is all for show.”

  He hadn’t meant it that way. Not really, but he didn’t get a chance to say anything as Presley pulled on his hand, leading him into the lion’s den. His family stopped talking as if someone had pulled the plug on the television. Kade still didn’t see Jillian, which was a little disturbing. Where was she?

  “Your home is beautiful,” Presley said, addressing his mom and stepdad.

  “Thank you,” Ben said. “I hope you feel welcome here.”

  Again, Ben’s hospitality prodded his mother to speak. “Yes, Presley, it’s so nice to have you here.” She gently cleared her throat. “Would either of you like anything to drink?”

  “No, thank you,” Presley and Kade answered in unison. They looked at each other and laughed. “We’re good,” Kade said.

  The sick look was back on his mother’s face. If she didn’t have Botox, he was certain she would be frowning right now.

  “Enough chit-chat,” Stacie said, her pregnancy hormone voice coming off as demanding. Kade should’ve given his sister the other bag of chocolate covered cinnamon bears to make sure she remained calm. “I think you have something to share with us.”

  “Yes,” his mother said. “We’re waiting on bated breath.”

  His mouth suddenly dry, Kade swallowed and looked at his sisters and their spouses. Stacie and Greg were the only ones who looked pensive, which he assumed meant Jamie and Allie were still in the dark.

  “Say something,” Stacie mouthed.

  “Right. Okay.” Kade’s palms felt slick, and he hoped Presley didn’t notice. “Presley and I are engaged.”

  Kade had no idea who said what as the room erupted with raised voices. He only picked up on a few keywords, but it was enough to know that no one had expected his announcement.

  “Engaged?”

  “What?”

  “Congratulations!”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Bro,” Greg said, coming across the room with a grin on his face. “Congrats, man.” He hugged Kade and then turned to embrace Presley. “Welcome to the family,” he said, his voice barely heard over the cacophony of voices. “And, yes, it’s always this crazy.”

  “Thank you,” Presley said, looking like someone had zapped her with a stun gun. At least she didn’t look as shell-shocked as his mother. Kade wondered if he should get his mom’s vital signs just to make sure she was okay.

  Stacie moved in front, blocking the vision of their mom. “I’m so excited my big brother is getting married!”

  Jamie and Allie were right behind Stacie. They were genuinely excited, making Kade feel bad that it wasn’t true. In theory, pretending to be engaged was supposed to help someone he cared about. He hadn’t counted on the reality that his family would be happy for him or how disappointed they all would be when he and Presley broke up.

  That thought made his chest feel tight like he’d entered a smoke-filled room without his protective mask on. It was weird that thinking about breaking off the engagement felt more like a trap than getting married.

  He looked at Presley, watching her with pride as Jamie and Devon gave her a welcoming hug. A glow radiated from Presley’s face, lighting up the room like the star on top of the Christmas tree. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

  As if sensing him watching her, their eyes connected, and a hint of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Hi,” she said in a soft voice.

  “Hi.” His eyes skimmed over her pretty face, dipping briefly to her full lips. Man, he wanted to kiss her. But that would have to come later when things weren’t so crazy. The grandchildren had abandoned their Christmas show to see what was going on with the adults. “You doing okay?” he asked when his nephew Lucas zipped past Presley, knocking her slightly off balance.

  “Yes.” Her gaze flickered to his mother, who was whispering to Ben. Their body language indicated the conversation was intense. Sighing, Presley looked back at him. “Is there a bathroom close by?”

  “Yeah,” he said, pointing his finger in the right direction. “It’s just down the hall, first door on the left.”

  “Thanks,” she said, slipping past him close enough to catch a whiff of her tantalizing scent. “I’ll be right back.”

  Kade hoped so. He wouldn’t blame her if she snuck out of the house and ditched him and his very loud family.

  Allie stepped next to him, watching with him as Presley made her way down the hall. As soon as she disappeared into the bathroom, she nudged Kade in the arm. “Way to shake up the family party.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She grinned. “So, the Princess Warrior, huh?”

  “Crazy, right?”

  “So crazy,” Jamie said, joining in on the conversation. “Mother isn’t very happy with you right now,” she said as if Kade wasn’t already aware of his mother’s displeasure.

  “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” he said dryly.

  “Hey, don’t leave me out of this,” Stacie said, joining the circle. “What did I miss?”

  “Mom isn’t very happy with me,” Kade deadpanned.

  “No duh,” Stacie said.

  Kade smirked at his sister before looking over Stacie’s head to see his mom furiously texting on her phone. He was pretty sure the recipient was Jillian.

  “It’s going to get worse once Jillian gets here, which could be anytime now,” Stacie added, answering Kade’s next question before he asked it. “She was supposed to be here hours ago but got stuck at work.”

  “Yeah,” Jamie said, “I thought the latest plan was for her to come in the morning, but I’ll bet you a hundred bucks she shows up tonight.” She held out her hand for Kade to shake on it.

  “I’m not betting against you,” Kade said with a laugh. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  “So,” Allie said, leaning in closer, “have you guys set a wedding date?”

  “Not yet.” Kade rubbed a hand behind his neck. All of this was giving him a headache. “We’re not in a rush.”

  “Good,” his mother said, coming to stand behind her daughters. “That means it’s not too late.”

  “Not too late for what?” Kade asked, noticing his sisters had abandoned him, scattering like candy from a broken piñata and leaving him to face their matriarch alone.

  “To know if Presley Windsor is really the best option for you.” She placed a hand on Kade’s arm, concern, and a tiny bit of desperation lighting her eyes. “She’s a lovely girl, Kade, but this all seems so rushed.”

  She had no idea how rushed, and she never would. “Mom, you haven’t been very nice to her. What’s up with that anyway?”

  A flicker of remorse crossed his mother’s pretty features. She’d just turned forty-five, but she didn’t look a day over thirty. “I’m sorry, it’s just I had someone else in mind for you.”

  “Let me guess,” he said, casting a furtive look over his shoulder to see if Presley was still in the bathroom. “Jillian Hastings?”

  “Who told you?” she asked, looking at each of her daugh
ters with suspicion.

  “No one needed to tell me anything,” Kade said, not wanting to get his sisters in trouble. “Come on, Mom, you and Mrs. Hastings have pushed Jillian and me together for as long as I can remember.”

  “Well, that’s because you all are perfect for each other.”

  “We already tried, and it didn’t work out,” Kade said.

  “That was a long time ago. You haven’t seen her for two years, and she is so beautiful and talented and fits into our family perfectly.” She clasped her hands in front of her as if she was going to start begging him. “Olivia and I would get to share grandchildren. How perfect is that?”

  “Mother,” Kade growled irritably. “Please stop pushing Jillian on me. She and I both agreed that we’re better off as friends.”

  “Well, if we’re friends, you haven’t been a very good one,” a familiar voice said from directly behind him.

  Kade didn’t need to turn around to know that husky voice belonged to Jillian Hastings. Still, he turned to greet her and was surprised when Jillian quickly closed the distance between them. He caught sight of Presley coming down the hall just as Jillian kissed him soundly on the mouth.

  Chapter 9

  Presley stared at her fiancé, lip-locked with the dark-haired beauty. A fierce possessiveness filled every part of her, while at the same time, she wanted to start crying. Kade was hers. At least for the next few weeks. This interloper had no right to lay one on her boyfriend.

  “Whoa,” Kade said, pushing the woman away from him. “What the heck, Jillian?” he asked, taking another step backward.